Tobacco pipe



5. LA FRANCA TOBACCO PIPE July 29, 1941.

Filed May 14, 1940 6144 VA 70/91.- 14 rkA/vcw. INVENTOR. BY d-fl WITNESS:

v Anna 2V5.

Patented July 29, 1941 srrss VAT 2 Claims.

This invention relates to improvements in tobacco pipes.

Some of the important features of the invention reside in a tobacco pipe which prevents clogging of the smoke passage between the bowl and the stem; which provides for a dry tobacco bowl by preventing moisture from the stem finding its way into the bowl, and which tends to filter the smoke and tobacco bits which might be drawn from the bowl to the stem.

Another feature of the invention is to provide a tobacco pipe which may be easily and expeditiously cleaned of any moisture or tobacco bits which might accumulate in the smoke passages.

A further feature of the invention is the provision of a tubular element which may be inserted into the bowl of a smoking pipe and threaded in the bottom wall thereof to establish communication betwen the bowl and the stem for maintaining a clear smoke passage therebetween.

Other features of the invention will appear as the following specification is read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing, in which:

Figure 1 is a vertical sectional view with parts in elevation of a tobacco pipe constructed in accordance with the invention.

Figure 2 is an enlarged vertical longitudinal sectional view through the bowl end of the pipe.

Figure 3 is a perspective view of the filtering element per se.

Figure 4 is a horizontal sectional View on the line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawing by reference characters, the numeral 10 designates a tobacco pipe constructed in accordance with my invention, and which includes a bowl ll having a tobacco chamber l2 which has a curved bottom I3. Integral with the bowl 1 i and extending therefrom, is a stem it having a relatively large bore [5 which extends from the free end of the stem to a point beneath the bottom l3 of the bowl II. The stem I i carries a bit it having a mouth piece H at one end, and a reduced portion 18 at the other end which frictionally fits into the Open end of the bore I5. The reduced portion l8 supports a metal tube I9 which terminates short of the plane of the bowl H for reasons to be hereinafter appreciated. The material be tween the curved bottom inner end of the bore 15 constitutes a dividing wall 20 which has a circular hole or opening 2! therein disposed in a vertical plane adjacent the inner rear side wall of the bowl H. The hole or opening 2| is enlarged slightly adjacent its I3 and the walls of the entrance into the bowl H and this enlarged portion of the hole is provided with screw threads 22.

From the description thus far, it will be seen that the opening 2! establishes a passage between the tobacco chamber I2 of the bowl I l and the bore l5, but the flow of smoke and tobacco bits through this opening is controlled by what I shall term a filter element 23. The filter element 23 is preferably made of metal and includes a tubular body portion 24 which is open at its lower end and closed at its upper end. Formed integral with the upper end of the tubular body portion 24 is an enlarged annular head 25 having a conical top 26. The exterior of the head 25 is provided with screw threads 2'1 for threading engagement with the screw threads 22 of the hole 2 l. The top 26 of the head 25 is provided with radial slots 28 which radiate from the apex of the conical top and which extend downwardly through the side walls of the head 25. The side wall of the head 25 is provided with a horizontally disposed slot or passage 29 and which slot extends substantially half-way around the circumference of the head. The slots 28 and 29 communicate with the interior of the tubular body 2 3 and they serve as smoke passages in the manner to be presently explained.

The filter element 23 is inserted through the open top of the bowl I i so that the tubular body portion 24 snugly fits through the hole 2| and the operator may apply a small screw driver to one of the cross slots 28 which may act as a kerf for the purpose of screwing the screw threaded head 21 into the threaded recess 22. The threads are so cut that when the element 23 is screwed home, the horizontal slot 29 faces the front end of the pipe as illustrated in Figures 1 and 2. Also, the slot 29 is disposed adjacent the bottom It of the tobacco chamber [2 whereas the lower end of the tubular body portion 24 depends into the enlarged bore I5 and terminates therein short of the bottom wall of the said bore. The enlarged bore I5 may be termed a saliva or moisture chamber in which moisture and saliva accumulates during smoking of the pipe, and which moisture cannot enter the tobacco chamber l2, due to the depending end of the tubular body 24.

Assume that the tobacco chamber I2 is filled with tobacco and the pipe is lighted for smoking. The user draws upon the mouth piece 16 and the draft created causes smoke to enter the slots.

29 and 28 from where it passes through the tubular body portion 24, into the enlarged bore I5, thence out through the tube I9 and the bore in the mouth piece I6. The conical top 26 prevents the packing of tobacco to an extent where the slots 28 may be closed, but even should the slots 28 become clogged, the smoke can freely pass through the horizontal slot 29, which due to its location causes a draft across the curved bottom I3 of the tobacco chamber l2.

When it is desired to clean the pipe of any trapped moisture or tobacco bits, the mouth piece It may be removed from the stem l4 and the operator may shake the bowl and stem so as to cause the moisture to flow from the open end of the stem. Should it be desired to clean the filter element 24, a screw driver or other implement may be inserted in one of the cross slots 28 and the element 24 unscrewed from its position within the bowl, whereupon a pipe cleaner or other cleaning instrument may be inserted through the slots 29, 28, and the interior of the tubular body 24. Should the passages 28 and 29 become temporarily clogged during smoking, the smoker may blow into the pipe without fear of moisture being blown from the bore I5 into the bowl I2. Such blowing may dislodge any tobacco bits which might accumulate within the passages 28 and 29.

If desired, a small hole 38 may be drilled through the stem to communicate with the bore I5 for admitting cool atmospheric air int the bore during the smoking of the pipe.

While I have shown and described what I consider to be the most practical embodiment of my invention, I wish it to be understood that such changes and alterations as come within the scope of the appended claims may be resorted to if desired.

Having thus described the invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A tobacco pipe having a bowl and a stem integral with and extending from said bowl, said stem having a relatively large bore therein extending beneath the bowl and separated therefrom by a dividing wall, said enlarged bore constituting a combined smoke and moisture accumulating chamber, the dividing wall having a vertical round opening extending therethrough and which opens into the bottom of the bowl adjacent the rear thereof, the upper end of the opening having an enlarged threaded portion; a

filter element comprising a tubular body portion, an enlarged externally screw threaded head integral with the top of the tubular body and having a conical shaped top wall, the threaded head having threading engagement with the threaded portion of the vertical opening while the tubular body freely passes therethrough and into the chamber with its lower end in spaced relation to the bottom wall thereof, the top of the head having crossed smoke inlet slots therein which communicate with the interior of the tubular body, and a horizontal smoke inlet passage provided in the side of said head and extending substantially halfway therearound and communicating with the interior of the tubular body, said smoke inlet passage being disposed adjacent and clear of the bottom wall of the bowl and facing the front and side walls thereof for setting up a sweeping draft over substantially the entire area of the bottom of the bowl during the smoking of the pipe.

2. A tobacco pipe having a bowl and a stern integral with and extending from said bowl, said stem having a relatively large bore therein extending beneath the bowl and separated therefrom by a dividing wall, said enlarged bore constituting a combined smoke and moisture accumulating chamber, the dividing wall having a vertical round opening extending therethrough and which opens into the bottom of the bowl adjacent the rear thereof, the upper end of the opening having an enlarged threaded portion; a filter element comprising a tubular body portion, an enlarged externally screw threaded head integral with the top of the tubular body, the threaded head having threading engagement with the threaded portion of the vertical opening while the tubular body freely passes therethrough and into the chamber with its lower end in spaced relation to the bottom wall thereof, and a horizontal smoke inlet passage provided in the side of said head and extending substantially halfway therearound and communicating with the interior of the tubular body, said smoke inlet passage being disposed adjacent and clear of the bottom wall of the bowl and facing the front and side walls thereof for setting up a sweeping draft over substantially the entire area of the bottom of the bowl during the smoking of the pipe.

- SALVATORE LA FRANCA. 

